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9:00The TakeawayTMThe Takeaway is a national morning news program that invites listeners to be part of the American conversation. Hosts John Hockenberry and Celeste Headlee, along with partners The New York Times, BBC World Service, WNYC, Public Radio International and WGBH Boston, deliver news and analysis and help you prepare for the day ahead.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013Old Stark County sheriff sues new Stark County sheriff in the Ohio Supreme CourtTim Swanson continues to press questions on whether Democrats pick for his successor was legalby WKSU's M.L. SCHULTZE

Web EditorM.L. Schultze

Retired Stark County Sheriff Tim Swanson and his deputies watched closely as Democratic committee members picked George Maier as sheriff a week ago.

The former Stark County sheriff is suing his presumed successor, saying he doesn’t qualify for the job. WKSU’s M.L. Schultze has more on the continuing controversy it will be up to the Ohio Supreme Court to settle.

Former Sheriff Tim Swanson filed his lawsuit Tuesday afternoon, asking the state high court to remove George Maier from the office he was sworn into last week. Stark County Democrats had picked the Massillon safety-service director Maier over the candidate Swanson wanted to take over the office, sheriff’s Lt. Louis Darrow.

But Swanson was among who raised questions during the Democratic Central Committee meeting last week about whether Maier legally qualifies for the job – and among those concluding he does not.

“And everybody I’ve talked to and some of the constituents around the state said, ‘doesn’t qualify. And I can’t support him. I worked too hard as the president of the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association … to get out requirements where they are now to go backwards.”

The challenge centers on whether Maier’s time with Massillon and with the Ohio Highway Patrol qualifies him as having served as a full-time law enforcement officer within the past four years and as having had the proper supervisory rank or education.

The lawsuit asks that Swanson be reinstated immediately, then either Darrow or Hartville Police Chief Lawrence Dordea be selected permanently. Dordea is a Republican and got just one vote from the nearly 200 committee members who voted.

Swanson decided not to run for re-election last year. Voters elected Democrat Mike McDonald, who announced in Janaury his health is preventing him from serving. So it fell to Democrats to pick Swanson’s successor

Listener Comments:

Shame on everyone involved I the strip search, humiliation and torture of hope . I can only hope that when each of you die that God does not allow you into heaven. I am especially upset with the uniformed women. Any woman who would stand by and allow a group of men to do this...and they knew what was coming because they knew those men....were cowards and twice as guilty as the men because women should protect other women. Shame on you all - you can hide behind the skirts of the legal system but in your hearts you know what you did and you are now all cursed. Shame on you.Posted by: Patricia g (St. Louis) on April 6, 2015 10:04AM

What about all of the suicides that happen at the Stark County Jail? How do all of these things happen?Posted by: Ruth on October 11, 2013 12:10PM

Whatever happened to the cops that stripped Hope Steffey? Were they ever fired or anything at all?Posted by: Alex (Michigan) on September 5, 2013 11:09AM

Swanson should know about being sued. He was sued for abuses at the jail, with a half dozen women coming forward...INCLUDING a woman that WORKS for corrections, a home schooling Mom, and a crime VICTIM!
Thanks to those lawsuits Stark County voters are going to pay MILLIONS more for insurance over time.
Especially since the deductible went up to a quarter million dollars!

Even the three teen girls that were stripped on a "tour" were awarded $300,000. AGAIN no arrests were made in that abuse case.

Then we have the threats he made of releasing criminals, if Stark County voters didn't vote for a tax increase.

I think Swanson has a lot of GUTS questioning anyone else's qualifications after what he has put the county through.Posted by: John on February 19, 2013 7:02AM